Latest News
HHS chief Walsh stepping down, Mahaniah named successor
Energy aggregation on the agenda for Athol meeting Tuesday
Healey bill allocates $1.2B for road, culvert repairs
Anthony Geraci to perform at Winchendon’s Blues, Brews and BBQ
Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle named DCR commissioner
Baystate Franklin Medical Center not at risk of closure, CFO says
North Quabbin veterans join in effort to break skydiving record
ORANGE — Seeking camaraderie and a challenge, a group of local veterans joined in an effort seeking to break a world record by jumping out of a plane over the weekend.
Fresh numbers show sharp decline in opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts
BOSTON — Massachusetts experienced a more than 36% decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, the state Substance Addiction Services Bureau reported Wednesday.
Most Read
L.S. Starrett lays off 179 employees at Athol and other sites
Molly Strouse of Athol remembered for fierce loyalty and spirit
Grants to illuminate Massachusetts history for Revolution’s anniversary
Energy manager to work on municipal upgrades in Athol, Royalston
Mount Grace secures 40 acres of forest in Ashby
PHOTOS: Royalston Music Fest opens first concert
Editors Picks
Athol survey calls for downtown dining
PHOTO: Beating the heat
‘Generational damage’: The fallout of cutting climate science research
UMass climate scientists reeling as Trump administration slashes funding for research
Sports
Early errors cost Greenfield Post 81 in loss to red-hot Belchertown (PHOTOS)
GREENFIELD — Make it nine wins in a row for the Belchertown Post 239 Senior American Legion baseball team, as it scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to an 11-3 victory over Greenfield Post 81 on Tuesday evening at Vets Field.
A Dream Summer: Greenfield 8U Ducks make history with state title win
UMass enters MAC while conference faces uncertainty
Backyard baseball, reimagined: Greenfield kids launch their own Wiffle ball league
Bulletin board: Andy Lesenski, Terry Boyce repeat as club champs at the Country Club of GreenfieldOpinion
Pushback: Spending locally builds a stronger Greenfield ‘ecosystem’
In July of 2023, I wrote a Pushback column about the Benderson company of Buffalo, New York which had purchased a 6.7 acre parcel on the edge of Greenfield behind the Mohawk Trail McDonald’s. Out of state developers like Benderson, Robar and Ceruzzi are turning Greenfield into Anytown, U.S.A.
Guest columnist William Lambers: What you can do about nuclear weapons — 80 years after Trinity blast
Larkin Pazanova: A spotting of the spotted lanternfly
Jim Bates: Elitists seek control, pursue overreach
My Turn: Massachusetts is breaking its constitutional promise
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Police Logs
Athol Police Logs, May 11 - June 9, 2025
2:01 a.m. - Male party in the lobby to speak with an officer about a cable box missing from his apartment. Male also stated he noticed the mat at his door has been moved.
Athol Police Logs, April 16 – April 26, 2025
Athol Police Logs, March 1 – March 17, 2025
Athol Police Logs: Feb. 6 – Feb. 27, 2025
Athol Police Logs Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2025
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Speaking of Nature: Bouncing through the grass: The flight window for the northern pearly-eye is July
It is now “full summer” and, as many others might be tempted to do, I have gone on my first camping trip of the year. To be honest, it was more like a “glamping” trip. My brother has a new camp up in northern Maine and my sister traveled north to enjoy a sort of camping reunion. There were no spouses, no pets, and no responsibilities other than relaxing and having fun. My brother installed a wonderful array of solar panels, which gave us access to electricity. Only the absence of running water made this anything remotely related to camping.
The hot new spot in Shelburne Falls: Hotfire Bar and Grill feels in many ways like a home kitchen
World of wonder: Walter Wick’s dynamic photographic illustrations at Norman Rockwell Museum
Local authors up for statewide awards: Four Franklin County authors nominated in four different Mass Book Awards categories
Multiple bottom lines, plenty of heart: Oxbow Design Build celebrates first decadeObituaries
Chad R. Ray
Plymouth , MA - Chad Ray, 53 of Plymouth Massachusetts passed away unexpectedly in his home on July 1, 2025. Chad was born and raised in Athol, MA. Chad attended Athol schools and graduated Class of 1991. After graduating Chad served i... remainder of obit for Chad R. Ray
Eugene Richard Rice
San Marcos, TX - Eugene Richard Rice of San Marcos, TX passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the age of 96. Born in Islip, NY, he was the son of the late Erwin and Alice (Glassett) Rice. Gene grew up in Athol, MA and graduated f... remainder of obit for Eugene Richard Rice
Donald R. Schlicke
Phillipston, MA - It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Donald Robert Schlicke on July 3, 2025. Born on May 10, 1953, in Gardner, MA, and a lifelong resident of Phillipston, MA, his presence will be deeply missed. His... remainder of obit for Donald R. Schlicke
Richard T. Hamel
BARRE, MA - Richard (Dick) Hamel, 75, of Barre passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was born December 3, 1949 in Lawrence, MA, second son of Margaret (Connors) Hamel and Raymond Hamel. He graduated from Central Cath... remainder of obit for Richard T. Hamel
